Refrigerating apparatus



1936- L. M. KEIGHLEY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1935 [NV NT Y Y W Mum, HI ATTORNEYS.

Jan; 28, 1936. E H Q 2,029,263

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1933 Z-Sheets-Sheet 2 VIII/11A 2 INV ENTOR BY I W ,4! M.

m: ATTORNEYS.

atenteci .Fan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATIN G APPARATUS 19 Claims.

This invention relates to household refrigerating apparatus, and particularly to a cooling unit for use in such apparatus includingmeans for properly cooling bottled beverages and for per- 5 mitting the easy removal of the properly cooled bottled beverages from the refrigerator, in addition to the usual requisites of such a cooling unit.

In mechanical household refrigerators it has been customary to provide a cooling unit including refrigerated surfaces for cooling the interior of the refrigerator and for providing a sharp freezing compartment to quickly congeal or freeze substances contained in trays adapted to be if; placed in thermal contact with the cooling units. The ordinary and preferred temperature to be maintained by a conventionalcooling unit as described, in household refrigerators, usually varies in different localities within the food storage :3 compartment of the refrigerator between 45 F. and 55 F., while the temperature of the sharp freezing zone of the cooling unit is-maintained below 32 F. The maintenance of such temperatures in household refrigerators has been some- 23 what standard and has been found to be unsatisfactory for cooling certain types of bottled beverages and the like to a predetermined desired temperature. For example, certain brands of beer, ale or thelike beverages are known to .3) be most pleasingly palatable when maintained at a temperature of between-35 F. and 45 F.

Thus household refrigerators employing a conventional cooling unit of the type described are not entirely satisfactory .for cooling certain and ale to the required or most desirable temperature. Furthermore, it has been customary to stack or place bottled beverages to be cooled wherever convenient within a refrigerator cabithe coding unit therein. While such a practice may result in properly cooled beverages at times nevertheless it is 'at best merely a hit or miss arrangement for cooling such beverages. Such ar- 4 5 rangement for cooling bottled beverages, also very last bottles to be placed in the refrigerator, being more accessible than the properly cooled bottles,

bottled beverages such as various brands of beer net and these bottles are usually placed adjacent Application November 18, 1933, Serial No. 698,655

usually being withdrawn from the refrigerator in order that their contents may be consumed and the properly cooled bottles are consequently permitted to remain unused within the refrigera-tor.

My invention overcomes these difliculties heretofore enumerated by providing a method of and means for properly and efficiently cooling bottled beverages and at the same time providing for the easy removal of the properly cooled bottles. 0

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of and means for supporting and guiding bottled beverages into intimate thermal contact with the cooling unit located within a household refrigerator and retaining the cooled bottles in a location or position easily accessible from the exterior of the refrigerator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved coolingunit or evaporator for refrigerating apparatus having, in addition to the conventional refrigerated surfaces for cooling air in the food storage compartment of a cabinet and for reducing the temperature of substances to be congealed or frozen, a means for arranging and maintaining bottled beverages therein in the order in which they are placed in the cooling unit so that the coldest bottle is readily accessible at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary cooling unit or evaporator structure which will be eflicient to produce a suitable food storage temperature, a quick freezing temperature and an intermediate temperature in order to carry out the foregoing enumerated objects.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings," wherein a preferred form of the present invention will be clearly shown.

In the drawings: U V

Fig. 1 discloses a refrigerator cabinet of the household type having a cooling, unit disposed therein and connected with a refrigerant liquefying and condensingunit shown diametrically;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view .of the cooling unit taken on the line 2-2 of.

Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the cooling unit taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the cooling unit taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring'to the drawings, for illustrating my invention and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown a refrigerator cabinet ill having insulated outer, walls II which enclose a food storage compartment l2 provided with a door l3 for affording access to the compartment. The cabinet l0 also includes a lower machine compartment closed by the door I4 andin which compartment the refrigerant liquefying arid con densing unit, to be presently described, is ordinarily housed. Within the food storage compartment 2 there is mounted closely adjacent the top thereof a cooling unit or evaporator i5. Evaporator I5 is" connected by a liquid refrigerant pipe line l8 and a gaseous refrigerant suction pipe line IT to a refrigerant liquefying and condensing unit. This unit as herein disclosed includes a compressor l8 operated, through a belt and pulley connection, by a motor 9. The compressor draws gaseous or vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator l5 through the suction pipe l8 and compresses same and forwards the compressed refrigerant under pressure to the condenser 2| where it may be liquefied by being cooled in any suitable manner and depositedin liquid form ina receiver 22. Liquid refrigerant flows from receiver 22, through the liquid pipe I6 to refrigerant expansion passages provided in the cooling unit, under the control of an expansion valve 24 of any conventional design. ,A thermostat 25 is operatively connected to a fluid pipe line connection 26 to a diaphragm or bellows 21 incorporated in the control'switch 28 which may also be of any conventional design, but preferably of the snap acting type. The controlswitch 28 is actuated by expansion or contraction of the diaphragm or bellows 21, caused by Q the temperature and pressure of a volatile. fluid ;and being of conventional form needs corrugated sheet metal portion 3| which is secured to a flat sheet metal portion 32 which portions after being secured together are formed in a substantially U-shaped structure. The corrugations-formed in sheet 3| are arranged to provide the refrigerant expansion or evaporating passage '34 between the metal portions 3| and 32 and thus these metal portions of the cooling unit serve as a refrigerating surface for cooling and causing circulation of air within the food storage compartment l2 of cabinet lo. A partition as is dis: po 6. within the U-shaped structure and extends par lel to and continuously with the refrigerated surfaces of the cooling unit.

This partition divides the space between the legs of the U-'-shaped structure into a plurality of chambers or compartments 36 and 3'|. A plate 38, shaped to correspond to the curvature of the chamber 36, is secured to the U-shaped refrigerF ated surface and to the partition 35 provide a support or track upon which a plur ity of bottled H beverages may be located or guided through the 65v cooling unit. The partitionv 35 and the plate 38. may, if desired, be formed integrally from a single piece ,ofmetal. One or more horizontally dis 'Dos'ed'refrigerated shelves or supports -4| aremounted within'the chamber or compartment. 31.

Each of these shelves 01'' supports 4| are formed .of sheet imetal portions 42 and 43 secured together and one of/tvhich is corrugated to provide a refrigerant conveyingor expansion passage 44 betweenf the metal portions 42 and 43. The 'shelves are secured in limited thermal con- ,tact only to the partition 35 by welding narrow outwardly extending fingers 45 (see Fig. 2) thereto so as to reduce to a minimum the conduction or transfer of heat from the shelves to the partition 35. Brackets 41 extend across the top of adapted to receive and support a receptacle 48 -containing a substance to be congealed or frozen.

The expansion valve 24 is secured in any suit- 1 able manner such as byv a bracket 48 to one of the supporting brackets 41. It will be noted that a portion of each shelf 4| is turnedupwardly, as at 46, at the rear thereof and this upturned portion provides a stop for the tray or receptacle 48. A refrigerant conduit 5|, (see Figs. 3 and 4) connects the expansion valve 24 with the refrigerant passage 44 formed in the upper shelf 4|. A conduit 52 connects the refrigerant passage 44 in the upper shelf 4| to the refrigerant passage 44 in the lower-of the shelves 4| (see Fig. 3).

The pipe 53 communicates with the refrigerant f passage 44 in the lower of the shelves 4| and is connected to the passage 34 formed between the metal sheets 3| and 32 (see Figs. 3' and'4). Having described the refrigerant connections with the various refrigerated surfaces of the cooling unit it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatrefrigerant admitted to the cooling unit I5", by the expansion valve 24, flows through the pipe 5|, passage 44 formed in the upper of the shelves 4|, pipe 52, to the refrigerant passage 44 formed in the -lower of the shelves 4| and thence through pipe 53 to the refrigerantpassage 34 of the air coolingportion of cooling unit 15. The path of flow of the refrigerant from the expansion valve 24 through the shelves 4| is a single or series path of flow. The lowermost and the uppermost refrigerated passages 34, in sheet metal portions 3| and 32, extend continuously throughout the length of the sheets 3| and 32,

while the portions of passages 34 intermediate these continuously extending portions are divided into two sets, each set extending from a point adjacent the ends of the sheet metal portions'at the front of the unit to a point-near the center of the metal portions disposed at the rear of the cooling unit. Since pipe 53 connects with the lower of the passages 34 and since this passage extends continuous throughout the 'len'gthof the I sheets 3| and-32 it will be obvious that refrigerant is circulated in both horizontal directions from the point of communication of the pipe 53.

of the passage 34, and thence upwardly through the two sets of the passages 134 to the point of communication of the gaseous refrigerant outlet pipellfi.h i

The ermostat 25' may be' located or' secured to. the cooling unit at any desired point to insure that the temperature oflthe shelves 4| is main-- ;tained below 32 F., so that substance-contained in the trays 48 disposed on the shelves 4| will be frozen, and to insure that only a predetermined small amountof liquid refrigerant is permitted to flow to the refrigerant expansion passages 43 so that there will be a substantial differencein the temperature of the refrigerated surface formed by the metal sheets 3| and 32 and thearefrigerated shelves. This temperature dif- "ference may be predetermined in accordance with the unit, provided by metal sheets 3i and 32,

and/or by the proper location of the thermostat 25 relative to the sensibility of the charge of fluid contained in the thermostat. The temperature difference is preferably suiiicient to insure quick freezing of a substance contained in the trays 48 while at the same time affording a suitable temperature in the refrigerant passages 43 of the refrigerated air cooling surfaces to chill air within the refrigerator food compartment to a temperature sufficient to properly preserve food stored therein. In order to carry out the objects of the invention and to render an apparatus suitable to' meet the foregoing requirements other modified structure are, of course, desired to be within the realm of my invention. For example, I am aware of the construction of a structure wherein insulation may be employed between the freezing zone, the bottle cooling compartment and the box or air cooling portion of the cooling unit to insure the proper temperature difference between these zones or compartments and such structures are desired to be considered within the scope of this invention so long as there is provided a unitary cooling unit structure.

In the structure disclosed the refrigerated surface provided by the metal portions 3! and 32 is preferably maintained at between 35 F. and 45 F'., so that the air passing thereover and circulating within the food storage compartment and upon absorbing heat leaking into this coml partment will be maintained by this refrigerated surface at between 45 F. and 55 F. By maintaining the box cooling or air cooling surfaces of the cooling unit between 35 F. and 45 F. it is obvious that the bottle cooling compartment 36 of the cooling unit will be maintained somewhere in the neighborhood of this temperature, which is desirable and preferable for cooling the bottled beverages disposed in the compartment 36 to the proper temperature of between 35 F. and 45 F. The temperature within or of the sharp freezing zone which is normally always maintained below 32 F. will not readily reduce the temperature of the bottle compartment 35 because the refrigerated shelves 'ii are in limited contact only with the partition 35. it is to be understood that this partition may, if desired, be formed of a metal having low heat conducting properties as compared to the properties of the metal of the refrigerated shelves M and the portions 36 and 32. In order to carry out the objects of the invention it is to be further understood thata limited circulation of the air in the food storage companment in contact with the bottles within the bottle cooling compartment of the cooling unit may be provided while at the same time preventing circulation of this air through or in contact with the freezing zone.

The bottled beverages to be cooled may be placed in one side of the U shaped bottle compartment 36 of the cooling unit I5 and, after this compartment has been filled with bottles, the

act of placing another bottle into the compartment "will progressively move all the bottles in the compartment. Thus the coldest bottle will be moved forward in the opposite side or leg of the compartment where it is readily accessible from the front of the cabinet and can be removed from the cooling unit.

It is apparent from the foregoing therefore that I have provided an improved cooling unit for household refrigerators and in addition my improved cooling unit obviously overcomes the conditions herein enumerated relative to the coldest bottle of beverages stored in the household refrigerator cabinet being rendered inaccessible. Furthermore, my improved cooling unit provides for the quick and efiicient cooling of bottled beverages and also permits the storage thereof in a household refrigerator cabinet in a manner which prevents the bottled beverages from interfering with or impeding circulation of air within the food storage compartment ofthe cabinet.

While the form of embodiment of the inven-- .tion as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A unitary cooling unit structure for a household refrigerator comprising, a refrigerated sur face providing said unit with an air cooling portion, a second refrigerated suface within said air cooling portion of said unit providing a sharp freezing zone for receiving and supporting a receptacle adapted to contain a substance to be congealed or frozen, means interposed between said refrigerated surface of said freezing zone and the refrigerated surface of said air cooling portion of the cooling unit and forming an elongated support for the reception of a plurality of bottles to be cooled, said means also including a vertically disposed portion forming a wall between the freezing zone and the air cooling portion of the cooling unit, and means for supplying refrigerant to the refrigerated surface of said freezing zone and to the refrigerated surface of the air cooling portion of the cooling unit.

2. A unitary cooling unit structure for a household refrigerator comprising a vertically diposed refrigerated surface providing said unit with an air cooling portion, a second refrigerated surface 1 disposed horizontally within said air cooling portion to provide said, unit with a sharp freezing support for receiving a receptacle adapted to contain a substance to be congealed or frozen, means interposed between and spacing said air cooling portion of the unit from said sharp freezing support and providing a vertical wall of a compartment for receiving and supporting a plurality of bottles to be cooled, and means for supplying refrigerant to the refrigerated sharp freezing support and to the refrigerated surface of said ai cooling portion of the cooling unit.

. 3. A unitary cooling unit structure for a household refrigerator comprising, sheet metal portions having parts thereof spaced apart and 'certain other parts thereof secured together to provide refrigerant conveying passages therebetween, said sheet metal portions being arranged to provide said unit with a refrigerated air cooling portion, other sheet metal portions having parts thereof spaced apart and certain other portions thereof secured together to provide a refrigerant conveying passage therebetween, said other sheet metal portions being disposed horizontally within said air cooling portion of the unit to provide a sharp freezing support for receiving a receptacle adapted to contain a substance to be congealed or frozen, means interposed between said air cooling portion and said sharp freezing support of the unit and providing a compartment for receiving and supporting a plurality of bottles to be cooled, means for supplying refrigerant directly to the refrigerated sharp freezing support, and means for conducting refrigerant directly from the refrigerated sharp freezing support to the refrigerated surface of said air cooling portion of the cooling unit.

4. A unitary cooling unit structure for, a household .refrigerator comprising, sheet metal portions having parts thereof spaced apart and certain other parts thereof secured together to provide refrigerant conveying passages tlferebetween,

said sheet metal portions being vertically dis-- or frozen, means interposed between said air cooling portion and said sharp freezing support of the unitand providing a substantially U-shaped compartment for receiving and supportingly guiding a plurality of bottles to be cooled around said, sharp freezing support and within the U- shaped air cooling portion of the unit, and means for supplying refrigerant to the refrigerated sharp freezing support and to the refrigerated surface of said air cooling portion of the cooling unit. 5. A shelf for a cooling element of a refrigerating apparatus comprising, superimposed sheet metal portions secured together at certain points and spaced apart at certain other points to form a refrigerant expansion passage therebetween, said shelf including a portion extending angularly therefrom inwardly of the end thereof and forming a stop for a receptacle adapted to be received by the shelf.

6. A unitary cooling unit structure for a household refrigerating apparatus comprising, a refrigerated surface providing said unit with an air cooling portion, another refrigerated surface pro- I viding said unit with a sharp freezing zone, said freezing zone being horizontally disposed within said air cooling portion of the, unit for receiving and supporting a receptacle thereon adapted to contain a substance to be congealed or frozen, means adjacent one of said refrigerated surfaces and forming a support on said unit for the reception of bottles to be cooled, means for supplying refrigerant directly to the refrigerated surface forming said freezing zone, and means for conducting refrigerant directly from the refrigerated surface of the freezing zone to the refrigerated surface forming said air cooling portion of the cooling unit.

'7. A unitary cooling unit structure for a household refrigerator comprising, a refrigerated surface providing said unit with an air cooling portion, another refrigerated surface providing said unit with a sharp freezing zone, said freezing zone being horizontally disposed for receiving a receptacle thereon adapted to contain a substance to be congealed or frozen, means'forming a support on said unit for the reception of bottled beverage to be cooled, and said support being extended around three sides of the refrigerated ceptacle thereon adapted to contain a substance to be congealed or frozen, means forming a support on said unit for the reception of bottled beverage to be cooled, and said support being in the form of a U-shaped track extending around three sides of the refrigerated surface forming said sharp freezing zone.

9. A combined unitary cooling unit and bottled beverage support for household refrigerators comprising, a vertically disposed substantially U- shaped portion having parts thereof refrigerated and providing an air cooling surface for said unit, and a horizontally disposed substantially U- shaped track for the reception of the bottled beverages carried by said air cooling surface.

10. A unitary cooling unit for household re frigerators comprising, a refrigerated vertically disposed reverse turned portion providing said unit with an air cooling surface, and means carried by said air cooling surface and forming a horizontally disposed reverse turned track for receiving and supporting bottled beverages thereon.

11. A unitary cooling unit for household refrigerators comprising, a refrigerated vertically disposed reverse turned portion providing said unit with an air cooling surface, another refrigerated portion providing said unit with a sharp freezing zone, said freezing zone-portion being horizontally disposed within said air cooling portion of the unit for receiving a receptacle thereon adapted to contain-a substance to be congealed or frozen, and means separating the refrigerated surface of said sharp freezing zone from the refrigerated surface forming the air cooling portion of the unit, said means forming a reverse turned horizontally disposedtrack extending around said freezing zone for receiving and supporting bottled beverages thereon.

12. The combination of a refrigerator cabinet having a cooling element of a refrigerating system disposed therein for cooling and causing circulation of air within said cabinet, means forming a supporting and guiding structure on said cooling element for a plurality of containers, said structure having a bottom'supporting surface and upright guide parts forming a track for directing the containers, said track having a curved portion and relatively straight leg portions, and said structure permitting the containers to be pushe by hand around the track. A

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which a refrigerated support for an ice tray is disposed between the leg portions of the track.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which 3 a refrigerated support for an ice tray is disposed between the leg portions of the track and in which at least one of the upright guide parts of the track is refrigerated and forms the air cooling portion of the cooling element.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which at least one of the upright guide parts of the track is refrigerated and forms the air cooling portion of the cooling element. 4

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 constructed to permit the containers to be pushed around the track in either direction.

17. In a refrigerator, walls defining a food storage space having a given depth, a cooling .element of a refrigerating system disposed in said food storage space for cooling and causing circulation of air therein, means forming a supporting and guiding structure on said cooling element for a plurality of substantially cylindrical containers, said structure having a bottom supporting surface and upright guide parts forming a track for directing the containers, said track having a curved portion and relatively straight leg portions, and said track being disposed depthwise of the refrigerator whereby a container may be pushed at the front of the refrigerator to cause all the containers to travel in the track guided by said upright parts thereof, the containers on one side of the track moving rearwardly and on the other side thereof forwardly, the containers acting as rollers with respect to each other.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 in which a refrigerated support for an ice tray is disposed between the leg portions of the track.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 in which at least one of the upright guide parts of the track is refrigerated and forms the air cooling portion of the cooling element.

LLOYD M. KEIGHLEY. 

